Cleaning Up Some of My Oldest Goodreads Books

When you’ve been on Goodreads for nearly a decade, you’re bound to have a lot of books added to your TBR (or maybe you’re selective). And you’re probably like me, who went on with life without ever thinking* about going through the “Want to Read” shelf until many years later.

*I mean, I did go through them when I was stuck at home during the Pandemic™ and evaluating my current Goodreads shelves (again), but I only did a quick removal due to the sheer number of books I had (nearly 3,000! 😦).

So it’s time to find out what some of the oldest books I have on my Goodreads TBR and see if I want to cut ties with them.

(This is prime opportunity to make a Frozen joke, but I think I’ll spare everyone.)

My first thought when popping open that shelf: This doesn’t look too bad.

Second thought: There’s an awful lot of freebies here. 🥴

For the purposes of keeping this post not too long, I only selected ten random books added between late 2012 to early 2013. Let’s get started, shall we?

City of Swords by Mary Hoffman

I’m a little surprised to see this on my TBR and that I never got around to reading it! I actually thought City of Masks (the first novel) was a stand-alone until I added the book on my Goodreads shelves and noticed there were five more books in the series. While I did get around to reading the rest of the series, I only got as far as City of Ships, though, before abandoning it like many other series.

As much as I adored this series back in the day, I truly don’t think I’ll ever get around to City of Swords. This is also a stand-alone series, so I’m not missing out on needing closure.

VERDICT: Remove

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Not too long ago I reread the entire Hex Hall trilogy in audiobook for the sole purpose of reading the spin-off novel. While I haven’t yet gotten around to reading School Spirits, I still have my physical copy in a box somewhere. Plus schools and magic? I’m still in love with those.

VERDICT: Keep

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter always has some of the best concepts and I’ve long had her books on my TBR. But I read The Evil Queen late last year and as much as the concept is amazing, I didn’t finish that one. That being said, I’m a bit hesitant about keeping Alice in Zombieland, but I also like giving most authors multiple tries before deciding their works aren’t for me. This one is right up my alley as well, so here’s to hoping I have much better luck when I get around to reading it.

VERDICT: Keep (for now)

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

The more I read the synopsis, the more I’m thinking, “I wanted to read this?” but also did I really want to read it, or was it because everyone in the book community was talking about it at the time? Poison Princess is an entire 180° from my reading tastes as an adult compared to when I was in my mid-teens, and not once did I ever think about picking up the book in the past few years.

VERDICT: Remove (turns out I got this one from a sale as well)

I Am Alive by Cameron Jace

I read a lot of Cameron Jace’s books back in 2013-2014, especially his Grimm Diaries series, which I devoured quickly due to them being novellas. I Am Alive was one I added after quite a few blogger friends at the time reviewed them, but it’s no longer a book I think I’ll enjoy.

There are other books of his that I have in my Kindle Library and Goodreads shelves, and while I probably would have enjoyed them in the early days of blogging, I no longer think that’s the case.

VERDICT: Remove (okay, I removed a few others from him as well)

The Star Dwellers by David Estes

I remember liking The Moon Dwellers and immediately getting the rest of the series when they were on sale, plus a few of his other works as well. The Star Dwellers doesn’t sound as interesting to me as it did back in 2012 when I was first introduced to Estes’s works, but I’ve also not been in the mood for a dystopian novel for a while. It’s going to be another hot minute before I continue the series (including rereading The Moon Dwellers), but I think I’ll keep this.

VERDICT: Keep

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Another book that I probably added to my shelves because everyone in the book community was talking about it, and like Showalter, Schwab’s book ideas are right up my alley. The Archived is no exception, and the idea of the dead resting on shelves like books? As creepy as that sounds, I’m interested.

I also love the cover – it’s elegant and minimal, but also comes across as haunting and mythical.

VERDICT: Keep

Sweet Blood of Mine by John Corwin

Demonic abilities? Yes, please. Having to run for your life because everyone wants to kill you? Also yes, but preferably in a book or movie, and when I’m not the target. (I’d be dead in 5 minutes. See you all in Hell. 👋)

But am I going to read this one? Not as much as when I first got the entire trilogy for free back in the day. I love a good book involving demons, demonic abilities and trying to learn the ropes of both, but Sweet Blood of Mine is no longer something I want to read.

VERDICT: Remove

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Cinderella retelling? ✅

Stepsisters? ✅

Revenge? ✅

I honestly don’t think there are enough of those out there, and that was one of the first things that had me sliding The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back on my TBR years ago.

While I don’t like some of Sariah Wilson’s other works, I did like #Starstruck and still want to read a few others.

VERDICT: Keep

A Fairy’s Guide to Disaster by A.W. Hartoin

Okay, this title sounds like an adventure involving fairies, humans and shenanigans that may or may not result in Disaster™. Although considering this is a fairy’s guide to disaster, I think it’s safe to say the results are disastrous. I’m no fan of the cover, but I also won’t turn down a creatively named title involving mischief.

VERDICT: Keep

I didn’t remove much since a lot of the ones originally on there were removed during the initial go-through or they’re freebies from Amazon I haven’t gotten around to cleaning up yet. But I eventually want to go through and clean up my Kindle library as well, and I think that might be my next project.

Let’s talk, bookwyrms: when was the last time you’ve gone through your Goodreads shelves?